1. The kidney proximal tubule is the primary site of drug-induced nephrotoxicity. I will describe the development of a 3-dimensional flow-directed proximal tubule microphysiological system (MPS). The kidney MPS recapitulates the synthetic, metabolic and transport activities of kidney proximal tubule cells. This MPS is as an ideal platform for ex vivo modeling of nephrotoxicity. Towards this goal, we have evaluated nephrotoxicity in response to challenge with multiple toxicants, including the heavy metal pollutant cadmium, antisense oligonucleotides, the antibiotic polymyxin B and the Chinese herbal product aristolochic acid. We believe that MPS technologies will have major impacts on predictive toxicity testing and human risk assessment. Animal and in vitro systems do not always faithfully recapitulate drug and xenobiotic responses in the clinic or occupational/environmental exposures, respectively. MPS technologies will refine safety assessment and reduce our need for surrogate animal testing. An ultimate goal is to create integrated human MPS organ systems that could replace animal models.

2. Nortis has developed a technology that is used to recapitulate functional units of human organs in microfluidic devices (chips). Such organ models include vasculature, kidney, and liver models for toxicology studies, blood-brain barrier models for drug transport studies, and vascularized tumor microenvironment models for drug efficacy studies.

This webinar highlights the different certification procedures regarding organic standards.

Certified reference materials (CRMs) are an important and essential part of quality assurance. Laboratories accredited according to ISO 17025 must use CRMs on a regular base to prove their quality.

For organic compounds, only a very limited number of CRMs from metrological institutes are available, due to this the big challenge is traceability.

In this webinar, you will learn:
•The certification process of the organic standard solutions by qNMR from the point of view of a commercial producer of certified reference materials under ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 17034 accreditation.

his webinar highlights the different certification procedures regarding organic standards.

Certified reference materials (CRMs) are an important and essential part of quality assurance. Laboratories accredited according to ISO 17025 must use CRMs on a regular base to prove their quality.

For organic compounds, only a very limited number of CRMs from metrological institutes are available, due to this the big challenge is traceability.

In this webinar, you will learn:
•The certification process of the organic standard solutions by qNMR from the point of view of a commercial producer of certified reference materials under ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 17034 accreditation.

Single molecule counting (SMC™) technology enables precise measurement of molecules at levels previously undetectable, down to the femtogram/mL levels, allowing researchers to identify new biomarkers, or assist in therapeutic development with an improved view of efficacy, safety & time course studies. When time and resources are limited, Merck KGaA offers a comprehensive portfolio of Custom Services supported by a scientific team with core expertise in SMC™ technology. Learn how our team will partner with you to develop a project specific to your requirements, whether that is fit-for-purpose sample testing, biomarker analysis using our current SMC™ immunoassays, or development and manufacture of an immunoassay for your novel target of interest. Learn how we work with our clients to define and tailor a customized project plan that includes milestone driven tasks, collaborative data review and progress reports. Whether your focus is to expedite your clinical research or to transfer a method to a CRO, we will show you how our services can help you accelerate programs from discovery into clinical trials.

Single molecule counting (SMC™) technology enables precise measurement of molecules at levels previously undetectable, down to the femtogram/mL levels, allowing researchers to identify new biomarkers, or assist in therapeutic development with an improved view of efficacy, safety & time course studies. When time and resources are limited, Merck KGaA offers a comprehensive portfolio of Custom Services supported by a scientific team with core expertise in SMC™ technology. Learn how our team will partner with you to develop a project specific to your requirements, whether that is fit-for-purpose sample testing, biomarker analysis using our current SMC™ immunoassays, or development and manufacture of an immunoassay for your novel target of interest. Learn how we work with our clients to define and tailor a customized project plan that includes milestone driven tasks, collaborative data review and progress reports. Whether your focus is to expedite your clinical research or to transfer a method to a CRO, we will show you how our services can help you accelerate programs from discovery into clinical trials.

Leukemia and lymphoma are hematologic neoplasms that affect members of all age groups. Each year, over 140,000 people in the US are diagnosed with a hematologic malignancy of some kind. With constant advancement of treatment options, the importance of accurate diagnosis and detection of lymphomas and leukemias becomes more and more relevant to the survival of the patient, and immunohistochemistry has served as a key auxiliary test in determining these diagnoses. This presentation covers many of the basic science, facts, and statistics of hematologic malignancies, as well as the utility of immunohistochemical testing with markers such as CD20, PAX-5, CD61, CD71, Cyclin D1, and SOX-11 in the accurate diagnosis and survival rates of lymphoma and leukemia.

T cell biology is integral to the study of normal immune regulation as well as cancer biology, Car-T cells, epitope specificity and antigen presentation. However, primary T cells can be difficult to propagate in culture for the length of time necessary for functional assays. In addition, primary T cells express variant T cell receptor (TCR) heterodimers that can be challenging to identify and may not be optimal for downstream studies. We sought to simplify this system using transformed T cells which can be grown in culture for extended periods of time. We engineered a floxed landing pad sequence into the safe harbor AAVS1 genetic locus using CompoZr zinc finger nucleases. Both the promoter and landing pad expression cassette are flanked by unique lox sites, allowing swapping of either the promoter and/or expression cassette as needed. We ensured that only one copy of this sequence was found within the genome to avoid any complications associated with random insertion events. We also generated a landing pad cell line null for the endogenous TCR using Cas9/CRISPR ribonucleotide complexes. Both the TCR alpha and beta loci were rendered null due to non-homologous end joining and the presence of insertions and deletions culminating in premature stop codons were genotyped using next generation sequencing. The absence of a functional TCR was validated using flow cytometry staining for surface TCR and CD3. This cell line was then used to generate a knock-in of the desired exogenous TCR heterodimer to the landing pad locus, verified using flow cytometry staining. These lines will be very useful for a multitude of studies where a researcher needs to express a gene of interest in a discrete genetic locus or wants to generate a panel of TCR expressing cell lines.

Drug transporters play a pivotal role in mediating the disposition of many drugs. As a result, researchers in the fields of drug discovery and development have shown a steadily rising level of interest in transporter-drug interactions, transporter-mediated drug-drug interactions, and the role of transporters in determining drug toxicity. For the past 18 years, SOLVO Biotechnology has pioneered the development and commercialization of in vitro assay systems to enable the study of drug transporters. One such system commonly employed for this purpose are inside-out membrane vesicles. Generated from cells over-expressing a transporter of interest, these membranes can be used to examine members of the ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporter family, which includes P-glycoprotein (P-gp; MDR1), bile salt export pump (BSEP), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), and the multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs). A versatile assay system, transporter-drug interactions can be monitored indirectly using ATPase measurements, or by directly measuring substrate transport using fluorescent or radiolabeled compounds, or by LC-MS detection. The advantages and limitations of this assay system will be discussed, and we will detail how inhibition of transporters involved in bile acid homeostasis is being used for predictive drug-induced liver injury (DILI) studies. In addition, we will examine the role that the lipid composition within the membrane plays on transporter activity within the context of the latest range of SOLVO mammalian membrane vesicles products for transporter research.

In vitro dissolution testing is used to characterize drug compounds throughout their development. In early drug development it is used to support the choice of a particular formulation. During drug production it is a critical component of the quality control process and is used to assess the changes in manufacturing processes or formulation. In order for dissolution results to be meaningful at each stage, the test and the process need to be reliable, consistent, predictive and accurate.

Filtration as the only sample preparation step plays an important role in the dissolution process, yet this step is often taken for granted. The choice of frits or syringe filters is often based on experience with previous formulations or availability in the lab. Selecting the wrong filter can result in inadequate filtration, low analyte recovery, solvent incompatibility or extractables that reduce accuracy and reproducibility. The wrong pore size or device can result in clogging that can adversely affect throughput and sample processing.

This seminar describes different membrane characteristics and provides guidance in selecting the right filtration devices for sample preparation following in vitro dissolution. Problems that result from using the wrong filter are presented along with steps one can take to solve each problem. Filter characteristics that affect drug recovery and downstream analysis, such as non-specific binding and extractable levels, are presented. Steps one can take to optimize throughput and reduce downtime are addressed including a discussion on membrane properties and guidance on the use of multi-layer and automation compatible filters. Recommendations are presented for choosing the right sample preparation device that will help improve throughput, reduce sample processing time and enhance test accuracy and reproducibility.

Immunohistochemistry is the technology of detecting cellular and infectious agent proteins in tissue with antibodies and then labeling those antibodies with a chromogen so that they are detectable under a light microscope. This science has become a standard method in diagnostics for classifying neoplasms and detecting infectious microbes. The science and technique behind immunohistochemistry are discussed in this webinar.

This webinar provides data on the applicability of a synthetic membrane for in-vitro diffusion studies in the transdermal arena in place of human or animal skin as a model. Applicability of synthetic membrane in formulation rank ordering is discussed. Advantages and disadvantages of biological models used in diffusion studies are also discussed.

Engineered materials that integrate advances in polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, and biological sciences have the potential to create powerful medical therapies. Our group aims to engineer tissue regenerative therapies using water-containing polymer networks, called hydrogels, that can regulate cell behavior. Specifically, we have developed photocrosslinkable hybrid hydrogels that combine natural biomolecules with nanoparticles to regulate the chemical, biological, mechanical and electrical properties of gels. These functional scaffolds induce the differentiation of stem cells to desired cell types and direct the formation of vascularized heart or bone tissues. Since tissue function is highly dependent on architecture, we have also used microfabrication methods, such as microfluidics, photolithography, bioprinting, and molding, to regulate the architecture of these materials. We have employed these strategies to generate miniaturized tissues. To create tissue complexity, we have also developed directed assembly techniques to compile small tissue modules into larger constructs. It is anticipated that such approaches will lead to the development of next-generation regenerative therapeutics and biomedical devices.

Liu Bin, PhD,Department Head - Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore

With the recent discovery of a special class of organic compounds with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics, new opportunities have opened for in vitro and in vivo imaging. In combination with advanced polymer encapsulation technologies, AIE compounds are now available as LuminiCell ultra-bright, organic nanoparticles that enable long-term cell tracking and imaging for applications such as cancer research and stem cell biology.

Thin-Layer Chromatography has been a well-known method for analysis of botanicals and other complex samples since the end of the 1930s. Today’s modern thin-layer chromatography combines the advantage of analytical robustness and high sample throughput with the possibility to use all kind of specific detection methods, e.g. classical UV/Vis/Fluorescence detection, mass spectrometry or effect-directed analysis. This method increases the amount of information for a fast and efficient screening for new compounds and the identification of raw materials especially for samples with a high matrix load such as herbal drugs, cosmetic and food samples.
HPTLC, the most advanced form of Thin-Layer Chromatography, is a powerful yet simple and cost effective tool for testing identity, purity, and strength (content) of botanicals as well as excluding adulteration during quality control. With the publication of general chapters by the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP ) and European Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur. 2.8.25) HPTLC has officially come into existence as a highly standardized and therefore reproducible analytical technique. The use of high performance plates, suitable instrument and software, a standardized methodology, and validated methods ensures reliable results that are fully compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). HPTLC fingerprints allow convenient visual comparison of multiple samples even if those originate from different plates (and different laboratories worldwide). Reference images (HPTLC fingerprints of botanical reference materials or other references) can be used to qualify data and pass/fail samples based on similarity or difference.
We will give you an overview about the versatility of HPTLC, applicable to many of your analytical tasks. Don’t miss the chance to extend your knowledge!

Thin-Layer Chromatography has been a well-known method for analysis of botanicals and other complex samples since the end of the 1930s. Today’s modern thin-layer chromatography combines the advantage of analytical robustness and high sample throughput with the possibility to use all kind of specific detection methods, e.g. classical UV/Vis/Fluorescence detection, mass spectrometry or effect-directed analysis. This method increases the amount of information for a fast and efficient screening for new compounds and the identification of raw materials especially for samples with a high matrix load such as herbal drugs, cosmetic and food samples.
HPTLC, the most advanced form of Thin-Layer Chromatography, is a powerful yet simple and cost effective tool for testing identity, purity, and strength (content) of botanicals as well as excluding adulteration during quality control. With the publication of general chapters by the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP ) and European Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur. 2.8.25) HPTLC has officially come into existence as a highly standardized and therefore reproducible analytical technique. The use of high performance plates, suitable instrument and software, a standardized methodology, and validated methods ensures reliable results that are fully compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). HPTLC fingerprints allow convenient visual comparison of multiple samples even if those originate from different plates (and different laboratories worldwide). Reference images (HPTLC fingerprints of botanical reference materials or other references) can be used to qualify data and pass/fail samples based on similarity or difference.
We will give you an overview about the versatility of HPTLC, applicable to many of your analytical tasks. Don’t miss the chance to extend your knowledge!

Whether you are looking to perform gene overexpression studies or validate gene knockdown/knockout results from your RNAi/CRISPR experiments, LentiORFs are your ideal shortcut to protein expression and gene analysis. These genes are available in either pooled or arrayed libraries, and can also be combined into gene family sets and custom clone panels to meet diverse research needs. They are excellent reagents for gain-of-function screens and are a powerful complement to CRISPR and RNAi. In this webinar, we will introduce the LentiORF library and its various formats. We will discuss the application of this technology as it pertains to experimental design, delivery mechanisms, data analysis and target validation. Further, we will present recent data demonstrating clone representation of the library in each of its available formats, along with functional validation of the viral particles at the level of both viral integration and functional RNA expression.

Currently the US EPA has not promulgated a method for the analysis of Total Nitrogen (TN). Most states that have TN regulations require permitee's to measure TN as the composite of TKN, Nitrate and Nitrite. This approach is costly, time consuming, and also susceptible to variability based on the methods used for the individual analytes Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is excited to announce the introduction of a Total Nitrogen Test Method consisting of a single spectrophotometric test kit. The method has been evaluated in a multilab study and this webinar will present the results of that study as well as an overview of the savings made possible by utilizing this new method for testing Total Nitrogen.

In the continued effort to save you time and simplify your workflow, we’ve developed a Fontana-Masson Staining Kit with a protocol that is 30x faster than the standard protocol. In this webinar, the researcher who developed the kit explains how easy it is to use this new rapid microwave technique. If you need to stain melanin and argentaffin cells in tissue sections, take a few minutes to watch this webinar - and save yourself many more minutes in the future by using this kit.

Many Pharmacopeia materials contain water as hydrates or in adsorbed form. Therefore the determination of the water content is important to maintaining compliance with the Pharmacopeia guidelines. Generally one of the three methods are given in the monographs, Method I (Titrimetric), Method II (Azeotropic), or Method III (Gravimetric). This poster will discuss the application of these methods to moisture determinations focusing on Karl Fischer techniques.

The complexity and diversity of food matrices, and the need for clean extracts to be injected into analytical instrumentation may imply the use of tedious and time-consuming sample preparation strategies that often produce significant laboratory waste. The development of a new matrix-compatible solid phase microextraction (SPME) coating, namely PDMS/DVB/PDMS, bearing enhanced antifouling properties, enables the analysis of complex food matrices by direct immersion SPME, and helps to overcome issues related to extensive sample pre-treatment and instrumental contamination. This webinar will focus on recent advances made toward the analysis of contaminants in complex food samples by using the new matrix-compatible SPME coating, and will describe the optimization of important parameters to be considered when performing Direct Immersion SPME (DI-SPME).

Assorted case studies using MIFC for analysis of protein and vaccine formulations will be presented, with an emphasis on measurements and samples that pose challenges for current techniques- including detection of small and transparent particles, direct analysis of highly concentrated formulations, and fluorescence characterization of particle type, chemical composition, and heterogeneous interactions.

The Life Science Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Webinar Channel features scientific presentations from key specialists in analytical chemistry, biology, chemistry and life sciences on the practical and technical aspects of new developments and innovations, to help advance your research.